Nigerian passenger jet crash declared a major disaster

Nigeria’s president has declared three days of mourning after a packed passenger jet crashed into a heavily populated district of Lagos.

The plane was carrying at least 150 people on board – the authorities said there were no survivors.

The aircraft was operated by the privately-owned domestic carrier Dana Air. Witnesses said it appeared to have landed on its under carriage as it crashed into a two-story building. Casualties on the ground are unknown.

The MD-83 had been en route from the capital Abuja to Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos.

Thousands of onlookers gathered at the crash site. Police had to use truncheons to beat them back, trying to make a path for rescue services.

Air crashes are not uncommon in Nigeria which has a poor airliner safety record.

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